Ever climbed out of your pool feeling like you need a second shower just to get the chemical smell off your skin? Welcome to the club. You might think that’s the price you pay for having a pool, or that you’re stuck with chlorine because your pool is already built and your equipment is already installed.
Neither of those is true. Converting your existing pool to chlorine-free is more straightforward than you might think. If you’re considering making the switch, here’s exactly what you can expect during the transition.
The Initial Assessment
The first step is looking at what you’ve already got. You don’t necessarily need to replace your entire pump or filter system to get a chlorine-free pool, but they do need to be in good working order.
When we visit your property, we’ll check your plumbing and make sure your current circulation system can handle the new technology. We’ll also take a deep dive into your water chemistry to see what we’re starting with.
The Technology
At The Pool Doctor, we’re big fans of ozone generators and UV sterilizers to deliver crystal-clear pool water without the chemical cocktail that chlorine pools need. And without all that chlorine, you don’t have to worry about:
- Red, burning eyes
- Itchy, sensitive skin
- The smell of chlorine
- Potentially dangerous chemical byproducts
Installation Day
Converting your pool to chlorine-free isn’t a week-long construction project. In most cases, the physical installation of the new equipment only takes a few hours.
We’ll plumb the new units into your return line, usually after your heater (if applicable) and filter. If you’ve got a modern automation system, we’ll also sync the new equipment so you can monitor everything from your smartphone. Once the hardware is in place, we start the transition process, and you’ll have a chlorine-free pool in no time.
The Transition Phase
You don’t usually need to drain your pool to go chlorine-free. Unless your cyanuric acid levels are too high (70 to 100 ppm). If they are, we’ll drain your pool by 50%. CYA is a byproduct of using chlorine tablets for years and years.
Next, we’ll deep clean your existing filter to remove any debris that might be left over. We’ll also balance the water chemistry to make sure the pH is between 7.4 and 7.6, and that total alkalinity is between 80 and 120 ppm before we start the ozone and UV equipment.
What Changes for You?
Once the conversion to chlorine-free is complete, everything looks a lot different. You’ll notice a significant increase in water “sparkle”. The “pool smell” will usually disappear within a couple of days as the chloramines evaporate.
Your routine changes, too. With a chlorine-free pool, you won’t be lugging heavy buckets of tabs or jugs of liquid shock from the store. While you’ll still need to check your water balance and clean your filters, the “heavy lifting” of sanitation is handled by the new equipment. You’ll find that your liners and covers last longer, too, because they aren’t being slowly “cooked” by high chlorine levels.
Making the switch to a chlorine-free pool means that you don’t have to make compromises. If you’re ready to stop smelling like a chemistry lab and start enjoying your pool again, give us a call to talk about the chlorine-free conversion.
